Historic Lawrence diner can be yours for free

Debbie Schaeffer, president, of Mrs. G TV & Appliances shows the former Benís Diner on Route 1 in Lawrence that she wants to give away for free. The diner has a historic flare to it because it is one of only five diners built by Mountain View Diner Company which built popular diners in the 1960. Trentonian Photo/CARLOS AVILA.

LAWRENCE — In a last-ditch effort to preserve an old diner with historical value, SSL Realty Holding is reaching out to the public for any takers of the former Ben’s Diner on Route 1 near the corner of Bakers Basin Road in Lawrence adjacent to Mrs. G TV & Appliances.

If no one steps up to take the diner which used to sit on Calhoun St. in Trenton’s heyday, then it will be demolished.

Developer Bill Holtz is heading a redevelopment project on that Route 1 site which will create more space for Mrs. G’s store as well as a new bank, Wawa and gas station.

The old diner is being offered for free to anyone willing to take up the cost of removing it.

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Debbie Schaeffer, president, of Mrs. G TV & Appliances said she wanted to give anyone passionate about antique diners the opportunity to take it.

“It is an original diner,” she said. “The structure needs work but it is salvageable,” Schaeffer added.

The diner has a historic flare to it because it is one of only five diners built by the once popular Mountain View Diner Company which built diners made popular in the 1960s. The diner’s aluminum exterior was its signature look.

In 2001, the states Historic Preservation Office found that the building was eligible for protection status by the National Register of Historic Places but follow through on the process has not come to fruition.

Schaeffer says she believes that the deadline for any interested parties to take the 50 –year old building is sometime in the next couple of weeks, signaling that anyone interested would have to step us as soon as possible.

Commuters driving through Lawrence on Route 1 will soon see ground breaking for the new Lawrence Commons which has been approved by that towns zoning board.

Anyone interested in the diner can call Bill Holtz at 908 7819322. Holtz did not return comment for this story in time for press.